sporting - Leisure Opportunities

Health & Fitness news
Nearly half of adults aged 16 and over are
currently unhappy with their work life balance,
according to the latest findings from
the Office for National Statistics’ Measuring
National Wellbeing programme.
Those that use leisure time to engage in
physical activities appear to be happier than
those who prefer sedentary pursuits – such
as watching TV or playing video games.
The latest figures show that in 2010-11,
54.1 per cent of adults in England had participated
in some type of physical activity.
Details: http://lei.sra=p9h7s
S&P Architects worked on the new venue’s design
Olympic swimmer Chris Cook has helped
mark the official start of construction work
on a new £31m leisure, business support
and community facility in Redcar.
Willmott Dixon has been appointed to
build the complex, which has been designed
by leisure specialists S&P Architects in collaboration
with Plus Three Architecture.
A fitness suite and a junior gym will be
among the facilities at the venue, along with
a 25m, six-lane swimming pool, a training
pool, a learning pool and a sports hall.
Details: http://lei.sra=R0l8J
Xtravaganza, a franchise based on a weightloss
programme established in Sweden
more than 10 years ago, is to make its first
move into the UK fitness industry.
With more than 180 venues, it is one of
fastest growing Scandinavian businesses
and will now be rolled out in South Wales,
Gloucestershire, Hereford and Worcester.
The programme is based on four main
principles to help people lose weight,
including neuro-linguistic programming
(NLP)-based mind training.
Read more: http://lei.sra=G8f6k
Research by Nuffield Health
has found that, on average,
higher earners work out at
gyms three times more than
those on lower incomes.
The group surveyed 1,600
people as part of its study,
which shows those earning
less than £20,000 work out for
around one hour a week. Those
who earn £101,000 or more
exercise for three hours.
According to the findings
of the report, earners between
£21,000-30,000 work out for
1.5 hours; £31,000-50,000
work out for 2.1 hours; and
£71,000-100,000 exercise for 2.6 hours.
However, the figures show a dip in the
number of hours of exercise in a gym for individuals
earning between £51,000-70,000 to 1.8
hours on average, bucking the overall trend.
Nuffield Health head of physiology Chris
Jones said: “Evidence tells us that keeping fit
LA Fitness has launched a new
Member Pledge scheme as
part of its strategy to improve
customer service and member
experience at its 79 UK sites.
The launch of the Member
Pledge includes a new website
outlining its policy on everything
from security to flexible
membership contracts and
what to do if personal circumstances
change.
In a statement, LA Fitness
said that it recognised that
the fitness industry has “not
always had the best reputation
for customer service”, but that
it was determined to underline the work it has
carried out behind the scenes in order to create
a better member experience.
LA Fitness chief executive Martin Long said:
“This Member Pledge sums up the progress we
Low-cost health club chain Pure Gym has
announced plans to open new locations in
West Bromwich (31 May) and Walsall (19 June)
as part of its UK ongoing expansion strategy.
Both of the new Midlands locations will
contain 220 pieces of equipment, including the
Nuffield’s study found those earning £101,000+ exercise for three hours
and healthy can benefit your performance at
work, which may in turn impress the boss.
“By doing regular exercise you help manage
work-related pressures and help put in a
better performance by better preparing your
body for times of stress.”
Details: http://lei.sra=B0w0N
Long said the pledge “sums up” the chain’s progress in the last two years
have made over the past two years to improve
our service standards – not just in the first few
days of your membership, but throughout a
member’s fitness journey with us.
Read more: http://lei.sra=t8X3s
LIVESTRONG spin bikes by Matrix; vibrating
Bodycore platforms; and Power Plates.
The 22,500sq ft (2,090sq m) West Bromwich
club and the 14,000sq ft (1,301sq m) Walsall
facility will offer 40 fitness classes per week.
Read more: http://lei.sra=P8n9r
image: zhu difeng/shutterstock
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